![]() Footnote 3 To provide a more in-depth analysis we, however, chose to use an instrumental case study design of Paul Biya’s regime in Cameroon to answer the question how dictators use the economic dynamics in their country to increase the longevity of their regime. Many dictatorial regimes use the economic situation as an integral part of daily politics. ![]() It proposes an analytical framework in which the economic dynamics of a country are portrayed as being a predictor of a dictator’s behavior to either repress or appease the ruling elite and masses to stay in power. This article seeks to contribute to this specific field of study that focuses on the survival strategies of dictators through a political economy approach. The dictator’s first priority is to stay in power.” We do that, assuming that the dictator is rational…Rationality means that the dictator will use his available resources as well as possible to attain his goal(s). “the researcher to look through the dictator’s eyes and to explain the decisions the dictator is making. Most of the literature that covers the relationship between the economic dynamics and a dictator’s survival is based, implicitly or explicitly, on a political economy approach (e.g. In sum, economic dynamics allow leaders to minimize threats to their position in power either through the repression or appeasement of the ruling elite and the masses. In contrast, he may deprive certain groups of such goods in order to repress them. Economic dynamics may also help the dictator to increase the support of the masses, by providing public goods and services. The relationship between this ruling elite and the dictator is often characterized by clientelism and is dependent on co-optation practices through rent-seeking. The economic situation of a state can influence corrupt practices by the dictator that help him create a supportive elite, repress political opposition within this group, and therewith manage potential violence being directed against himself. There are several ways in which a dictator can use the economic dynamics in a country to maintain control. Footnote 2 The connection between dictatorship survival and states’ economic situation is therefore complex and currently remains underexposed within the scholarly debate. Footnote 1 Dictatorships can sustain despite poor economies and there are cases in which dictatorships have stabilized while undergoing economic development. While influential, the relationship between economic development and regime stability is far more complex than initially theorized by Lipset. He argued that the more economically developed a nation is, the greater the chance a regime will develop into a democracy. This relationship is rooted in the modernization theory of Lipset. There is a long-standing practice of analyzing the relationship between economic growth and regime stability. The overarching concept that seems to influence these different strategies is the economic situation of a state. This body of work predominantly concentrates on the role and support of the ruling elite and of the masses. Since it is more likely that international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes occur in non-democratic regimes, it is not surprising that there is a significant amount of literature that focuses on dictatorial regime survival. While some dictators rule for decades, others fall within a short amount of time. There are great differences in the longevity of dictatorial regimes. It is argued that the economic structure of a country influences the strategy-repression or appeasement-that is chosen to deal with the threat stemming from the masses or the elite and that ultimately, these considerations are likely to influence the economic development of a country. The present research aims to fill this gap through an analysis of Paul Biya’s 37-year reign in Cameroon. However, the intentional use of these strategies to increase regime survival remains under-researched. A dictator can use economic dynamics to increase his support among the elite through corrupt practices, he can determine the extent to which he is supported by the masses by offering public goods and services to them and he can withhold benefits to repress threats stemming from these groups. Scholars predominantly focus on the extent to which a dictator is able to generate support from both the elite and the masses in explaining regime survival. The decisions dictators make and the strategies they use impact the longevity of their regime. Consequently, the decision-making process of dictators has increasingly garnered criminological interest. International crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, are more likely to occur in non-democratic regimes.
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